While it has not been confirmed if Martin Tann, 24, who is from New South Wales, even entered the water before disappearing on Tuesday, Senior Sergeant Peter Trivett told ABC Radio on Thursday morning that a shark attack could not be ruled out.

But a shark attack could be more likely after a witness came forward overnight to tell police they saw Mr Tann enter the water on Tuesday afternoon.

The section of water where Mr Tann went missing from was the same area a shark took a bite out of a surf ski last year.

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In the past couple of years Western Australia has been deemed "shark attack capital" of the world following five fatal shark attacks in the past 19 months.

On Wednesday, as searchers scoured the coast from air, land and sea, Surf Life Saving WA reported shark sightings off Fremantle, Ocean Reef, Leighton's Beach and Clayton Beach.

In June 2012 Martin Kane was tipped into the water by a three-metre shark at Mullaloo Beach when it launched at his surf ski.

He had been paddling with a group of friends about 150 metres off shore at the time.

Mr Kane tried to scare away the shark by throwing his paddle at it and was plucked to safety by a friend who paddled him to shore.

Mr Tann, is understood to have gone to Mullaloo Beach about 1pm on Tuesday, but from there police are not sure what happened.

His belongings were found on the beach that afternoon and police were alerted that he was missing about 8.30pm.

A full air, land and sea search, which was launched on Wednesday, failed to spot any sign of Mr Tann.

Originally from Narrabri, Mr Tann was staying with his uncle on holiday and was in Perth for a wedding.

It is understood that his parents are travelling to Perth today as the search continues.

15 comments

"While it has not been confirmed if Martin Tann, 24, who is from New South Wales, even entered the water before disappearing on Tuesday, Senior Sergeant Peter Trivett told ABC Radio on Thursday morning that a shark attack could not be ruled out.

But a shark attack could be more likely after a witness came forward overnight to tell police they saw Mr Tann enter the water on Tuesday afternoon."

I'm confused...

Commenter

SAW

Location

Perth

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 3:29PM

Well obviously police considered the possibility of a land shark in the area. That he may have entered the water opened the possibility that a water shark got him. Clearly if you are anywhere near the beach, then sharks are the possible cause of your disappearance.

Commenter

Felix

Location

ACT

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 7:20PM

There have been less human deaths by shark in Australia since 1791 (216) than there were drownings in Australian waterways last year, but don't let that inconvenient fact get in the way of a headline.

Commenter

Rimski

Location

Perth

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 4:34PM

Hard to believe that people are jumping to shark attack. If all we know is that he entered the water and disappeared I would say there is a 99.9% probability that he drowned. Shark attack is about as likely as death by sting ray to the heart or dehydration.

Commenter

af

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 7:48PM

Someone disappears from a beach? Must have been a shark. Give it a rest already...http://www.supportoursharks.com/en/News/Miscellaneous/Articles/20120813/Shark_Spotted_in_the_Ocean.htm

Commenter

Lateralus

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 5:04PM

My sympathies are with the family.Hopefully, the sharks will be allowed to live and roam free in the ocean. After all , that is where they live and when we wade into the ocean we invade their territory. Tragic situation, with no solution.

Commenter

pam

Location

perth

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 6:00PM

Pam, I too anthropomorphise sharks. They do roam free and any plan to charge them is not a solution. The stuff we 'wade into' is, however, a solution, which they own. We've given our kids fluffy shark toys (you know, like Bruce, the GWS in Nemo, and counselled them to NEVER wade into the sharks' territorial zone, about 12 km out, I believe.)

Commenter

Doofus

Location

SWWA

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 6:58PM

@Saw: The article says they can't "confirm" he even went in the water. One eyewitness account of the guy entering the water is obviously not considered by the police to be sufficient to confirm that he has gone in the water. It probably needs to be verified by further witnesses.

Commenter

Loz

Location

Sydney/Honkers

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 6:07PM

well i dont think a penguin would have eaten him

Commenter

world champions

Location

the other down under

Date and time

April 04, 2013, 6:40PM

It could have been a leopard seal that thought he was a penguin, or a whale that thought he was plankton or krill, whatever it was, murderous intent must be ruled out, under the new paradigm, the eater is always innocent. Long live the new paradigm, backwards is the new forwards, etc.

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